DoD blasted for recruiting felons, not gays

[USMCGRIZZ]

WASHINGTON (AP) - "Under pressure to increase their numbers, the Army and Marine Corps are sharply raising the number of recruits with felony convictions they are admitting to the services.
Data released by a congressional committee shows that the number of soldiers admitted to the Army with felony records jumped from 249 in 2006 to 511 in 2007. And the number of Marines with felonies rose from 208 to 350.

The bulk of the crimes were for burglaries, other thefts, and drug offenses, but nine involved sex crimes and six involved manslaughter or vehicular homicide convictions."





What a grand day for the Corp! Our illustrious Commandant is now opening the door to felons...BUT NOT TATTOOS!!! After all we must have standards and you can't SEE a Marine's felony record like you can his tattoos and APPEARANCE IS ALL THAT MATTERS..oh and hitting those recruitment goals. What a joke...it would be funny if weren't being pulled on our beloved Marine Corps by the Vietnam combat-dodging commandant.

SF

[SGT6124]

Apparently someone is pissed at the Commandant. Just give a person a chance man for real. What if those people made 1 bad mistake in their life, and now your still ridiculing them. Don't be so quick to pass judgement. I know a Marine who has a felony record, and he's a better freakin Marine then 90% of those "straight shooters". Maybe the Marine corps has already recruited all the ones who just haven't gotten caught. Ever thought about that?

[Mateo820506]

USMCGRIZZ....I can't tell you how much I agree with you. I have another thread going in regards to the same topic. We are getting way too many gangbangers, wanna-be-gangbangers, and other turds of society that are corrupting our Corps. People like SGT6124 are like give them a chance let them redeem themselves. Hell no! It is idiotic thinking like that which is the reason we are getting so many freaking turds. The more you recruit from those areas the more you get. They don't leave their bad habits behind but bring them with them into the Corps and infect others. Even those few that did leave their bad habits behind. But when you run with a bad crowd, especially one you are familiar with, you change right back.

[SGT6124]

Yeh, yeh. I will agree there are those who bring their bad stuff with them, but there are those who don't as well. What you just did is stereotype. I bet you wouldn't want to be stereotyped now would you? Why don't you do whatever it takes to straighten that Marine out? I mean, isn't that your job as an NCO? Last time I read my promotion warrant, that was the conclusion I came too. If you think they are gangbangers or what have you, then get them processed out. Don't use any excuses if you can't handle the marines in your charge or other marines for that fact. If I see something jacked up, I will fix it, no matter who it is. Just remember, your senior leadership will always help you correct someone that is wrong. If they don't, then call me I will.

[CommunityEditor]

Advocates for homosexuals in the military are criticizing the Pentagon for accepting hundreds of felons — including at least 350 into the Marine Corps — while continuing to prohibit gays and lesbians under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

The criticism comes after yesterday’s release of statistics showing a sharp increase in the number of waivers granted for recruits with felony convictions. Between fiscal years 2006 and 2007, the number of felony waivers granted for Marine Corps active-duty recruits jumped by nearly 75 percent, from 208 to 350, Department of Defense data shows.

“This data shines a bright light on the outrageousness and absurdity of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the military watchdog group Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, in a written statement. “On the one hand, the Pentagon is discharging highly-qualified, honest, law-abiding men and women because they are gay, while on the other hand granting waivers to rapists, killers, kidnappers and terrorists. Granting waivers for child molesters and rapists to serve while discharging lesbians and gays is utter madness.”

SLDN is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military and provides legal help for troops affected by the policy.

“Repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will reduce the need to grant felony waivers,” Sarvis said.

The Corps granted waivers for felonies including rape, manslaughter, burglary and making terrorist threats, Defense Department data shows. The Army also reported a spike in felony waivers — up more than 100 percent, from 249 in fiscal year 2006 to 511 in 2007, Defense Department data shows.

Under the Pentagon’s current policy, homosexuals can be removed from the military if they engage in homosexual activity or openly disclose or display their sexual preference. In 2006, the Pentagon discharged approximately 700 service members under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”


Article: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/04/marine_dontask_042208/

[technomage1]

You know, I have to agree with the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network on this one. It seems insane to let someone who has been convicted of a felony in but refuse a gay person. Felonies are pretty serious stuff. I know that I don't want the person next to me, the one that I depend upon for my life, to be a felon. They've already shown they're not trustworthy.

I know that in order to get the waiver they have done the punishment for the crime. However, a lot of states don't let convicted felons own firearms or even vote. Additionally, training someone who has a history of violence in firearms seems like a bad idea for society's safety as a whole.

I know the Army and Marine Corps are hurting, but this is not the solution.

[USMCGRIZZ]

"Give em a chance???" Lets do the math here. Exactly what percentage of these felons do you think you will "turn around"? 25%, 50% (maybe) that leaves the Corps with the other 50-75% shitbirds to deal with. Unless the Corps has changed alot since 1974 it isn't a REHAB facility for felons. Think about this...how much CRAP does the USMC take publicly (NATIONALLY) every time some derelict Marine commits a sex crime..or assaults or kills some civilian?? Is it worth it to tarnish the reputation of the Corps in order to turn it into some freakin do-gooder SOCIAL EXPERIMENT?

The bottom line here is the CORPS is hemorraging experienced Marines due to the chicken@#$% policies of this Commandant and his lackeys and he has instigated "TATTOO" policies that are running even more Marines out because he has let it be known that they are CAREER LIMITED due to the ink on their skin...just how smart is that to then decide to replace these good Marines with the dredges of society (as long as they are ink free).

This is simple crap here so lets just call it what it is.

And I'm not PISSED at the Commandant...I never met him...I went to Vietnam like 99% of the other Marines...not Pendleton...

[SGT6124]

So your saying some straight edge little lamb Marine with no criminal background has never commited a crime or done drugs or recieved a DUI? Boy aren't you lost in the sauce. It's easy to blame someone with a record isn't it? The straight edge Marines are the ones putting the Marine Corps in the spot light with stupid stuff, not the gang banger from the streets.

[marmot123]

USMCGRIZZ....I can't tell you how much I agree with you. I have another thread going in regards to the same topic. We are getting way too many gangbangers, wanna-be-gangbangers, and other turds of society that are corrupting our Corps. People like SGT6124 are like give them a chance let them redeem themselves. Hell no! It is idiotic thinking like that which is the reason we are getting so many freaking turds. The more you recruit from those areas the more you get. They don't leave their bad habits behind but bring them with them into the Corps and infect others. Even those few that did leave their bad habits behind. But when you run with a bad crowd, especially one you are familiar with, you change right back.

Recruiting a walking turd has broader implications. When high school students, parents, and teachers notice s--t h--ds are being allowed into the Corps, it gives the impression that the military in general is made up of these types. There are two obvious problems with this. First, it turns well qualified kids away from the Marine Corps. Two, it's embarrassing!